The highest number of violent incidents was recorded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A sharp increase in violence is seen against Christians in 2024, with over 840 incidents reported throughout last year, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI). This number includes 640 verified cases by the EFI’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC).
The data reveals a troubling picture of religious intolerance across the country, with the highest number of incidents recorded in Uttar Pradesh (188), followed by Chhattisgarh (150), Rajasthan (40), Punjab (38), Madhya Pradesh (37), and Haryana (34).
The attacks involve physical assaults, vandalism of churches, disruption of prayer meetings, and social exclusion. Pastors, churches, and Christians attending prayer services are the most common targets, with incidents frequently escalating during religious gatherings, especially on Sundays. On average, four to five churches or pastors face attacks every day, with significant spikes in violence during key months like January (71 incidents), September (68), March (64), and October (62). The timing of these attacks often coincided with sensitive political periods, such as during the general elections in April and May.
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a hotspot for violence against Christians. The Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, has been widely misused to target Christians, leading to false allegations of forced conversions and arrests of pastors and believers. One particular case took place in Khaga, Fatehpur district, on December 27, when Pastor Shivbharan was attacked, forcibly shaved, and paraded through his village. Despite the brutality of the assault, Pastor Shivbharan was charged under the state’s anti-conversion law.
In Chhattisgarh, the situation is no better. With 150 reported cases this year, Christian communities, particularly in tribal areas, face ongoing violence, social ostracism, and economic deprivation. In Jashpur district, Pastor Mahesh Mahanand and other Christians were attacked as they returned from a lunch gathering. Pastor Mahanand was left unconscious and required hospitalisation. In Narayanpur district, Christian families were summoned to a village council, where they were pressured to renounce their faith or face violent consequences.
Punjab and Rajasthan, regions not traditionally associated with high levels of religious violence, have also seen a rise in attacks on Christians. In Punjab, Pastor Bhagwan Singh was severely beaten during a prayer service in Jalandhar on January 23. He later succumbed to his injuries on February 19, 2024.
The report says that the misuse of anti-conversion laws is a central issue fuelling the violence. “Laws meant to prevent forced conversions are instead weaponised to harass religious minorities. The burden of proof often falls on the accused, making legal defence extremely difficult,” it says. A case in point occurred on May 5 in Sipah village, Bihar, where extremists locked a church during a service, assaulted worshippers, and falsely accused them of forced conversion. Four individuals were detained but later released. This was the second attack on the same church in just three months.
The increasing violence against Christians is compounded by challenges in seeking justice, according to the report. “Despite the increasing number of attacks, legal justice seems elusive. Many victims are too afraid to file complaints due to fear of police inaction, intimidation, or retaliation from their attackers. Even when cases are registered, they often result in delays, acquittals, or wrongful imprisonment of victims instead of perpetrators,” the report said.
The Christian community in India continues to face escalating violence, with the actual number of attacks likely higher than the reported figures due to underreporting and fear of reprisals, according to the report.
“The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the right to live without fear of persecution. It is imperative that these rights are upheld so that every Indian, regardless of faith, can worship freely and without fear,” the report said.
The EFI has called on the Indian government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to protect religious minorities and ensure justice is served. This includes providing police protection to vulnerable Christian communities, holding extremist groups accountable, and preventing the misuse of anti-conversion laws. The EFI has also urged the government to strengthen legal safeguards for victims of religious persecution and ensure fair and impartial handling of cases involving religious minorities.